
Class _i:J'J?.^ 

Copyright ]^^ . 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSm 



RECEPTION TO 

MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER 



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Reception to 

Mr. John H. Flagler 

McKeesport, Forty Years After 



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New York 
PRIVATELY PRINTED 

MCMX 






Copyright, 1911, by 
John H. Flagler 



Arranged and Printed at 

The CHELTENHAM Press 

New York 



e^C! A2S3514 



A SOUVENIR 

for 
"The Old Guard" of the National Tube 
Works, The Chamber of Commerce 
of McKeesport, and other friends 



A Word to My Friends. 

ON January 27, 1909,"The Old Guard "of the 
National Tube Works gave me a recep- 
tion in the rooms of the McKeesport 
Chamber of Commerce. Their invitation, after 
nearly twenty-five years' absence from McKees- 
port, was a very great surprise and the occasion 
itself one of the rarest pleasures of my life. 

The newspapers of Pittsburg and McKeesport 
were highly interested in this visit of an old timer 
to the centre of the iron and steel industry in 
America, and had a good deal to say about it. 
These newspaper notices were collected and 
preserved in a scrap-book, by the Chamber of 
Commerce. I have had selections from the scrap- 
book printed, in order to retain in my own posses- 
sion this contemporaneous and vivid picture of 
my visit and to have a souvenir to present to 
my friends. 

John Haldane Flagler. 

December, 1910. 



Table of Contents. 



PAOB 



A Word to my Friends 5 

The Officers and Directors of the Chamber op 

Commerce, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania . . 9 

Permanent Organization of "The Old Guard" . 15 

The Reception Planned 19 

Inspection of City and Mills 27 

The Reception 35 

The Speeches 43 

Mr. Ay res' s Remarks 43 

Mr. Cronemeyer's Remarks 43 

Mr. Wallace's Remarks 46 

Mr. Flagler's Speech , . . . . . .49 

Geo. Taylor's Poem, " Good-by, Old Mill, Good-by" . 73 

List of Guests 75 

Editorial Comment 77 

Frazzles and Paragraphs 81 

Poem 87 



Officers and Directors of the 
Chamber of Commerce of 
McKeesport, Pennsylvania. 



President . 
Vice President 
Vice President 
Vice President 
Vice President 
Vice President 



C. A. Tawney 
W. C. Cronemeyeb 
J. D. O'Neil 
R. M. Baldridge 
W. A. Cornelius 
Philip Zenn 
W. V. Campbell 
W. H. Coleman 
R. E. Stone, 
J. C. Devenny 



Officers. 



J. B. Ayres 

D. G. Donovan 

Dr. J. P. Blackburn 

Dr. T. L. White 

J. K. Skelley 

Dr. J. B. Richey 



Directors. 



Harry Myers 
J. AuDLEY Pierce 
Henry Hartman 
Dr. H. S. Arthur 
Henry Friedman 
M. B. Walker 
T. P. Howard 
J. C. Little 
Warren Douglass 
Thos. M. Evans 



J. A. Beattie 



Committees of Chamber of 
Commerce. 

Auditing Committee, R. M. Baldridge, chairman; 
T. C. Baird and James G. Jenkins. 

Advertising, J. C. Devenny, chairman; J. W. Hoag- 
land, Charles H. Calcutt, C. W. L. McDermott, W. F. 
Sharpies, James J. White and Will Pfaff. 

Arbitration, Charles A. Tawney, chairman; Dr. H. 
S. Arthur, Rev. C. A. McDermott, Rev. McElwee Ross 
and W. C. Soles. 

Building Inspection, Philip Zenn, chairman; H. J. 
Lohman, A. E. Kunze, W. C. Brieck, Jacob Langhart, 
W. L. Mussler and R. E. Stone. 

Convention and Public Gatherings, J. D. O'Neil, 
chairman; W. H. Coleman, J. M. Harris, T. F. Cava- 
naugh, Frank Becker, J. B. Hershey, C. G. Campbell, 
Leo F. O'Brien and C. W. L. McDermott. 

Co-operation with other Organizations, J. B. Ayres, 
chairman; J. Audley Pierce, R. W. Gordon, Sr., George 
O. Calder, E. J. Lauck, J. M. Harris, A. H. Kelly, O. 
K. Eaton and Louis J. Haber. 

Educational, Dr. J. B.' Richey, chairman; Warren 
Douglass, R. H. Graham, J. D. Foster, Theo. M. Hopke 
Oscar Havecotte, H. C. Cronemeyer, J. W. Hoagland 
and Knox C. Hill. 

Executive, J. B. Ayres, chairman; W. C. Crone- 
meyer, Dr. T. L. White, Dr. J. P. Blackburn, D. G. 
Donovan, J. D. O'Neil and J. K. Skelley. 



12 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

Finance and Banking, W. H. Coleman, chairman; 
Henry Friedman, T. M. Evans, Charles A. Tawney, 
R. M. Baldridge, H. H. Hartman and W. A. Cornelius. 

Highways and Parks, Harry Myers, chairman; J. 

C. Little, J. R. Romine, J. M. Lyle, W. L. Riggs, John 
W. Price and E. P. Junker. 

Legislation, J. Audley Pierce, chairman; W. E. New- 
lin, T. M. Evans, J. F. Woodward, I. L. Jones, W. 
Vokolek, George O. Calder, R. A. Hitchens and A. L. 
Goldstrom. 

Membership, J. C. Little, chairman; T. P. Howard 
W. D. Repper, Allen S. Evans, J. C. Devenny, H. P., 
Price, J. N. Dersam, Thos. W. White and John H. 
Bestwick. 

Municipal Affairs, Dr. T. L. White, chairman; J. 

D. O'Neil, T. M. Evans, M. Wilson Stewart, W. H. 
Barr, R. E. Stone and L. J. Bachman. 

New Industries, Henry Hartman, chairman; Harry 
Myers, Henry Friedman, T. D. Gardner, R. L. Mc- 
Carty, Manning Stires and D. P. Smith. 

Postal and Telegraph Service, W. V. Campbell, 
chairman; Henry Hartman, T. H. Fox, M. L. Kelley, 
J. N. Hartman, J. R. Divans, R. L. Riggs, A. S. Quick 
and D. S. Tobin. 

Relief Committee, D. G. Donovan, chairman; M. 
B. Walker, C. C. Fawcett, T. P. Howard, J. W. Ridge, 
L. J. Bachman, George W. Lord, G. C. Diffendale and 
W. H. Exner. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 13 

Rivers and Harbors, Dr. J. P. Blackburn, chairman; 
J. B. Ayres, W. S. Abbott, J. Audley Pierce, Dr. T. L. 
White, F. H. Coursin and Lute L. Robbins. 

Rooms and Fixtures, R. E. Stone, chairman; Philip 
Zenn, P. C. Yester, J. H. Ruben, A. C. Wallace, L. N. 
Morgan and P. J. Sellers. 

Sanitation, Dr. H. S. Arthurs, chairman; Dr. J. P. 
Blackburn, Dr. W. M. Woodward, Dr. John F. Haben, 
Dr. Noah Sunstein, Dr. V. A. Cowan and W. H. Barr. 

Statistics, W. C. Cronemeyer, chairman; Warren 
Douglass, D. H. Rhoades, W. L. Mussler, W. A. Wat- 
son, Carl G. Hoffman and D. S. Tobin. 

Trade and Commerce, J. K. Skelley, chairman; M. 
B. Smith, Adolph Schmidt, F. J. Regensberger, F. O. 
Reed, F. C. Wampler, J. H. Jones and W. A. Wittman. 

Transportation, J. A. Beattie, chairman; C. J. Mc- 
Carty, H. H. Sproat, W. B. Peters, C. L. Cuthbert, 
E. W. Boots, R. L. McCarty, I. T. Lohr and John M. 
Potter. 

Playground and Swimming Pool, M. B. Walker, 
chairman; C. C. Fawcett and James F. McCloskey. 



Permanent Organization of the 
Old Guard. 

McKeesport News, January 15. 

MILL VETERANS WILL ORGANIZE. 

Meeting to Be Held By Tube Works Employes 
Tomorrow. 

WILL MEET FLAGLER. 

Many Interesting Features Included in Plans for 

Association. 

"Old Guard" of Concert to be Auxiliary. 

At a meeting which is to be held tomorrow night in the 
Chamber of Commerce rooms, Ruben building, a permanent 
organization may be effected among the veteran employes 
of the National Tube Company, some of whom have been 
in the continuous employment of the concern since the days 
of its first operation in Boston, Mass. During the last few 
days some of the promoters of the idea have been actively 
at work among the mill men, seeing all who have had a 
long term of service with the company, and adding their 
names to the list of probable members. About 35 names 
have already been secured and others are being added every 
day. 

A report was made this morning to Secretary J. C. De- 
venny, of the chamber, by R. W. Gordon, Sr., and John W. 
Jeffers, two of the oldest employes of the company regarding 
the plans that have been made. A good attendance is de- 
sired at the meeting tomorrow night, when the first formal 
action toward the organization of the men will be taken. 
The list includes some who are now employed with the com- 



16 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

pany in Pittsburg but who were formerly associated with 
the men in this city. 

The proposed organization is the result of a movement to 
have the mill men officiate at a reception which is to be 
given by the Chamber of Commerce to J. H. Flagler, of 
New York, who was formerly in charge of the tube com- 
pany's plant in this city. The date of Mr. Flagler's arrival 
here has not been decided upon, he having been sick for 
some time. It is expected, however, that he will be in the 
city within a very few days, when it is intended to hang the 
portrait which he presented to the chamber some time ago. 

Encouragement has been given in every way, it is said, by 
the officials of the Tube Company here, the men having per- 
mission to interview all the employees at their work and dis- 
cuss the proposed organization. One of the principal fea- 
tures of the project is the benefit which would result in the 
giving of assistance to members in times of illness or distress, 
the attendance at funerals, and general association one with 
the other. Meetings are to be held at regular intervals in 
the Chamber of Commerce rooms. Addresses will be made 
tomorrow night by officers of the Chamber of Commerce. 

"Getting together in this manner is a good thing all 
around; go right ahead, put me down for $250, to head a sub- 
scription toward a fund to assist in carrying on the good 
work, and when you need my assistance, you know my ad- 
dress." 

Mr. Flagler expressed great interest in the movement, of 
which Secretary Devenny is the leader, to organize a Civic 
League, having for its objects the combining of the forces 
of the different cities and towns in the Monongahela, 
Youghiogheny, and Turtle Creek valleys in order to present 
a solid front in Civic affairs, and requested that he be kept 
informed as to the progress made. 



"THE OLD GUARD" 




o 

H 

X 
o 






McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 



17 



"The Old Guard." 

R. W. Gordon, chairman of the committee on arrange- 
ments for Mr. Flagler's reception is more than pleased with 
the result and is deserving of credit for his untiring efforts in 
bringing "The Old Guard" together. 

Below is the roster of "The Old Guard": 



R. W. Gordon, St., 
Peter Patterson, 
w. j. forsythe, 
William Anderson, 
Patrick Flinn, 
Thos. W. Whiffen, 

H. IZOD, 

p. J. Bligh, 
Richard Kelly, 

R. M. KiNKAID, 

j. j. koughan, 
Oscar Moller, 
Ben Eisele, 
David McPherson, 
Patrick Shovelin, 
Michael Cahill, 
Thos. C. O'Brien, 
Thomas Malley, 
George Miller, 
L. A. Buser, 



John M. Jeffers, 
George P. Bradley, 
Martin Collarton, 
Harry Hammond, 
Geo. W. Dennis, 
Thomas Patterson, 
Richard Easler, 
James Qualters, 
Thomas Coleman, 
Hugh Hickey, 
James Hickey, 
Rich. C. Ferguson, 
P. Daley, 
Owen Farley, 
John Forney, 
John Griffin, 
Jas. J. Coleman, 
John Erickson, 
John F. Harrington, 
Daniel B. Brown, 



18 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 



George Taylor, 
William Black, 
Dennis Coyne, 
Robert E. Lee, 
W. P. Gilbert, 
Gust Carlson, 
M. F. Kelly, 
James P. Carney, 
I. J. Reager, 
L. A. Seitz, 
H. Starkamp, 
J. T. Peterson, 
Adam Curran, 
Geo. D. Bicket, 
Magnus Sveberg, 
Firman Cooly, 
Daniel Brown, 



Harry Fitzgerald, 
W. D. Kynor, 
Frank Jack, 
Milton N. Wise, 
Lawrence Laughlin, 
Daniel Broms, 
Richard James, 
Michael Meade, 
Wm. Geltz, 
Michael Welsh, 
Darby Conway, 
R. Hampson, 
Daniel Kusick, 
John Harrington, 
John Daily, 
Thomas Harry, 
Frank Carroll, 
Charles Patterson. 



The Reception Planned. 

McKeesport Times, January 18, 1909. 

OLD EMPLOYES SEND MESSAGE TO 
FLAGLER. 
Assure Him 'Twill Be Great Pleasure to Give Him 
a Hearty Welcome Again. 
Helped Him Build Mill In Boston. 
Body of Tube Works Veterans Will Hold Enthusias- 
tic Meeting — Permanent Organization. 
Will be Valuable Auxiliary To Chamber of Commerce. 

The formation of a permanent organization of the old em- 
ployes of the National Tube Company was unanimously en- 
dorsed Saturday night at a meeting held in the Chamber of 
Commerce rooms. All employes, who have worked for the 
company for 26 years or over are eligible for membership. 

Saturday night's gathering was "a meeting of the men who 
built the town." This is the manner in which Secretary 
John C. Devenny of the Chamber of Commerce describes it. 
It was one of the most representative assemblages of Mc- 
Keesporters that ever favored the chamber with their 
presence. 

The primary object of the meeting was to arrange a re- 
ception for J. H. Flagler on his visit to this city, when his 
portrait will be hung and dedicated to the Chamber of Com- 
merce rooms. Veterans of both war and peace made up the 
gathering. Interesting stories of long ago were "swapped" 
by the men who helped Mr. Flagler to build the mill in Bos- 
ton and who have worked continuously for the company ever 
since. Prominent among these was "Dick" Ferguson, who 



20 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

when his shot-riddled body was carried from the battlefield 
of Balaklava, following the memorable charge of the "immor- 
tal six hundred," little thought that he would live to assist in 
such an important event. 



Mr. Flagler Wires He Will Come. 

Mr. Ferguson is one of Mr. Flagler's old employes and 
took an active part in the meeting Saturday night and was 
appointed a member of the committee on arrangements. 
John M. Jeffers was elected chairman and J. C. Devenny 
acted as secretary. As the meeting was called to order the 
following telegram was received : 

J. C. Devenny: 

McKeesport, Pa. 

Can be in McKeesport any day after Wednesday, next 
week. 

J. H. Flagler. 

The meeting was an enthusiastic one. Many of the lead- 
ing members of the Chamber of Commerce were present and 
expressed themselves as being honored in the opportunity to 
greet the old "veterans." 

The object of the permanent organization will not only be 
to take action in matters of giving receptions to former em- 
ployers, visiting sick brothers, or attending funerals in a 
body, but to take an active interest in and co-operate with 
the Chamber of Commerce in matters looking to the general 
good of the community, and Secretary Devenny considers 
that this organization will be a strong auxiliary to the 
Chamber of Commerce in establishing parks and playgrounds 
and working along civic lines in general. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 21 



McKeesport News, January 19, 1909. 

MR. FLAGLER TO COME NEXT WEEK. 

Wednesday Is the Date Decided Upon By Mill 

Veterans. 

RECEPTION PLANNED. 

It Will Be in the Evening at Chamber of Commerce 

Rooms. 
Flashlight Picture To Be Made Of Veterans. 

At a meeting of the committee appointed by the mill 
veterans on last Saturday night to make final arrangements 
for the reception to be given J. H. Flagler, former manager 
of the National Tube Company, in this city, Wednesday, 
January 27, was selected as the date for the event. This 
morning Secretary Devenny of the Chamber of Commerce, 
who is one of Mr. Flagler's old employes, wired Mr. Flagler 
the result of the meeting last night and asked him if the 
date would be suitable to him. An answer to the telegram 
was received this afternoon, in which Mr. Flagler said that 
the date was satisfactory. 

Robert W. Gordon, Sr., George Bradley and Mr. Devenny 
were present at last night's meeting. It was decided that 
on account of the many events already scheduled for this 
week it would be unwise to ask Mr. Flagler to come here 
until next week, when excitement over the mayoralty elec- 
tion will have subsided somewhat. Mr. Flagler was notified 
of the desire of the committee that he postpone coming until 
next week and in a telegram received from him this morning 
he said that this would suit him perfectly. Wednesday was 
then selected as the date. 

Many different methods of entertaining Mr. Flagler were 
discussed last night by the committee and every moment of 



22 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

his time while in the city will be occupied with some feature 
especially prepared for his benefit. The principal event will 
be the public reception given on Wednesday evening at the 
Chamber of Commerce rooms, at which Mr. Flagler is ex- 
pected to talk, and when the handsome oil portrait of him- 
self recently donated to the chamber is to be placed in a 
position of honor on the walls of the meeting room. 

One of the particular features of this meeting will be a 
flashlight group of Mr, Flagler and his "old gliard," as the 
men who compose the organization are known. A photog- 
rapher has been arranged for and the men will be grouped 
in the center as the picture is being taken. There are but 
few of the "old guard" still living and all of them are anxious 
to have one of the photographs. 

There will be a number of addresses by mill employes, 
members of the Chamber of Commerce, city officials and 
others who will be requested to occupy places on the program. 
It is probable that music of some kind will also be provided. 
A general invitation is being extended to the public to at- 
tend the reception and it is believed that the capacity of the 
rooms occupied by the Chamber of Commerce will be over- 
taxed. 

GOOD ADVERTISING 

Not the least of the excellent features of the proposed 
public reception to J. H. Flagler, former manager of the 
National Tube Co., in this city, is the advertising such an 
event will give to McKeesport throughout the country. 
The fact that Mr. Flagler, who practically built the tube 
mills of 35 years ago, is to visit McKeesport after many 
years' absence, and is to be entertained by a body of mill 
"veterans" who assisted him at that time, will be given 
publicity in scores of newspapers throughout the United 
States. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 23 

McKeesport Times, January 19, 1909. 

FORMER CHIEF TO GREET MEN. 

MR. FLAGLER WILL BE HERE JANUARY 27. 

Wires J. C. Devenny He Will Come Next Week For 

Visit and the Date Is Fixed. 

Local Committee Favor Wednesday. 

Reply Received Today, Committee Much Pleased 

By Old Employer's Friendliness. 
Flashlight Of Flagler And " Old Guard " Proposed. 

J. H. Flagler, former general manager of the National 
Tube Company's McKeesport Plant, will probably be in 
this city on Wednesday, January 27. At a meeting of the 
committee on arrangements last night the following tele- 
gram was received: 

J. C. Devenny: — 

Letter received. Thanks to old comrades. Make it next 
week. Will fix date later. 

J. H. Flagler. 

Pleased by Flagler's Friendliness. 

The committee decided to try to arrange the reception for 
Wednesday of next week and a telegram was sent asking him 
if that date would be satisfactory to him. It is expected that 
a reply will be received today. 

A message was received from Mr. Flagler this afternoon 
stating that the date, Wednesday, January 27, for his visit 
to McKeesport was satisfactory to him. 

The committee is very much pleased with the manner in 



24 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

which Mr. Flagler acted in the matter and the tone 
of his telegram is proof of his friendship for the "Old 
Guard." 

Arrangements have been made to have a flashlight photo 
taken of Mr. Flagler surrounded by his old employes. 
Among those who formerly worked with Mr. Flagler is John 
C. Devenny, now Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, 
and he is enthusiastic over the proposition to form a per- 
manent organization of the "Old Guard" to work in con- 
junction with the Chamber. 



Send Message to Old Employer. 

Chairman Jeffers appointed Robert M. Gordon, R. C. 
Ferguson and Geo. P. Bradley a committee to complete ar- 
rangements for the reception of Mr. Flagler and a meeting 
will be held tonight to consider what further action is 
necessary. 

After the meeting adjourned the old employes of Mr. 
Flagler prepared and forwarded the following paper: 



Mr. John H. Flagler, 

Former General Manager, 
National Tube Works, 
McKeesport, Pa, 

Dear Sir: — 

We, your old employes of the National Tube Works, in 
meeting assembled at the Chamber of Commerce, send 
greetings and express our delight upon hearing read your 
telegram of this date to John C, Devenny, stating that you 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 



25 



would visit McKeesport, and once again meet your old em- 
ployes and friends, and assure you that to extend you a 
hearty welcome will be one of the greatest pleasures of our 
lives. 



R. C. Ferguson, 
Richard Easler, 
George P. Bradley, 
Oscar Moller, 
James Hickey, 
James Qualters, 
Adam Curran, 
Lawrence Loughlin, 
Michael Cahill, 

Wm. J. FORSYTHE, 



Gust Carlson, 
Benedict Eisle, 
Harry Hammond, 
Wilson Ruhert, 
George W. Dennis, 
Milton M. Wise, 
Darby Conway, 
Thomas Coleman, 
Taylor Burns, 
Robert W. Gordon, 



John M. Jeffers. 



26 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

McKeesport Daily News, Wednesday Evening, 
January 27, 1909. 

McKEESPORT'S GREETING. 

Welcome home, Mr. Flagler! In the name of the whole 
people of McKeesport we greet you and extend to you the 
hospitality of our city, whose greatness you have helped to 
create. While you no longer reside here and have been 
absent from us for many years, a man's real home is where 
his heart is, and we feel that your heart is in McKeesport. 
It was here that you did your greatest work, it was here that 
you formed the greatest associations of your life outside of 
family ties and it was here that you climbed the most dif- 
ficult steps of the ladder which leads to the pinnacle of suc- 
cess. We feel that you are at home, in the midst of your 
largest family, and we hope that you will enjoy the same 
pleasure during your stay in McKeesport. True, it is not 
the same home that you left many years ago, because the 
strong hearts which remained have builded well during your 
absence and have brought to a state bordering perfection 
that which you aided in its birth. But the spirit has not 
changed and the welcome which the people of McKeesport 
extends to you comes from the well of real esteem and affec- 
tion. The freedom of the city is yours — do with it as you 
will. 



Inspection of City and Mills. 

McKeesport News, January ^7, 1909. 

MR. FLAGLER HERE TO-DAY. 

FORMER MILL MANAGER IS HONOR GUEST. 

Met at the Station By a Pioneer Tube Maker. 

He Visits the Mills. 

Mr. Flagler is Amazed at Greatness of Old Home 

City. 
Will Make An Address to Old Friends Tonight. 

As one who had for the first time set foot in a strange 
land, except for the hearty greetings given him, John H. 
Flagler, of New York, a former resident manager of the 
National Tube Company, arrived here this morning at 10 
o'clock after an absence of more than 20 years. He was 
accompanied to this city by Peter Patterson, formerly gen- 
eral superintendent of the Tube Plant. The first man to 
grasp the hand of Mr. Flagler as he stepped from the train 
at the Baltimore & Ohio Depot was Joseph Dillon, a well- 
known resident of this city, who made the first tube turned 
out by the plant constructed by Mr. Flagler. The recogni- 
tion was mutual. Mr. Flagler's face wreathed itself in 
smiles as he took the hand of his former employe and said: 
"How are you, Joe, old boy, you seem to be just the same as 
ever!" 

Mr. Flagler was met at the depot by Secretary J. C. 
Devenny, of the Chamber of Commerce, and a number of 
others, and a brief survey of the business district of the city 
was made from the depot platform. Then the party went 
to the Hotel White, where quarters were secured for Mr. 



28 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

Flagler and his valet. This formality over, surprises began 
to come thick and fast. Under one arm Mr. Dillon had a 
package which he desired Mr. Flagler to inspect. It proved 
to be a guarantee written and signed by Mr. Flagler on 
October 7, 1869 in which he pledged the sum of $2,000 to Mr. 
Dillon for the performance of a certain contract. The con- 
tract was performed according to terms and as a memento 
of the circumstance Mr. Dillon had the paper framed. It 
had been forgotten by Mr. Flagler until the circumstances 
were recalled to mind. 

Leaving the hotel Mr. Flagler and the reception party, 
including a representative of the Daily News, walked in 
Fifth Avenue to the People's Bank of which Mr. Flagler was 
once president. Mr. E. W. Pitts, President, was absent, 
but in charge of Mr. Harry Stuckslager, Cashier, an in- 
spection of the bank was made and Mr. Flagler expressed 
himself as being amazed at what he saw. "To think that 
all this could be in McKeesport," was the way he put it. 
Mr. Stuckslager produced one of the original deposit books 
of the bank, on the fly leaf of which Mr. Flagler's name ap- 
pears as a director, he being one of the very few still living. 
Old memories were revived when Mr. Flagler caught sight of 
the large oil portrait of C. R. Stuckslager which hangs on the 
wall of the directors' room and some interesting stories were 
told. 

Mr. Flagler expressed a desire to visit the First National 
Bank, of which he is a stockholder, and of which he was at 
one time a director. He spent a few minutes in that in- 
stitution, meeting Charles A. Tawney, cashier, William 
Nagel, assistant cashier, and J. L. Hammitt, a member of the 
board of directors. While in the directors' room Mr. 
Flagler exhibited deep interest in a group of photographs 
showing familiar faces, among which was his own when it 
was adorned by a large beard. Mr. Flagler is now smooth 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 29 

shaven and the black hair of former days is now changed to 
silver. 

Meantime an automobile was secured and a party of four, 
including Mr. Flagler, Mr. Patterson, Mr. Devenny and the 
Daily News representative, made a quick tour of the city. 
Among the points of interest which Mr. Flagler saw were 
the mills along the Youghiogheny River as far as the seam- 
less works, the new bridge between McKeesport and Portvue 
and the filtration plant, after which a tour of the Riverview 
Park and South Park districts was made by way of Jenny 
Lind Street, Versailles Avenue and Evans Avenue. On the 
return trip Mr. Flagler was taken to the driveway of the 
McKeesport hospital, overlooking the entire plant of the 
National Tube Company, and from there he got a bird's-eye 
view of the establishment. The site on which Mr. Flagler 
built and where he worked with others was completely hid- 
den from view by extensions and additions. 

The last point visited by Mr. Flagler was the Elks' Tem- 
ple on Market Street, where he was shown over the entire 
building. Here he met two former friends in George L. and 
A. R. Good, both of whom knew him during the days of his 
work here. Some time was spent in pleasant reminiscences, 
after which a view of the interior was had. The beauties of 
the structure made a deep impression upon the honor guest, 
who said that he had never seen anything to surpass it. 

After leaving the building Mr. Flagler was whirled to the 
Chamber of Commerce rooms in the Reuben Building, where 
he rested for a while. During his stay there he met infor- 
mally a number of acquaintances, including some of the men 
with whom he worked years ago. Arrangements were com- 
pleted for the reception which is to be given this evening, 
after which Mr. Flagler became the guest of the National 
Tube Company officials at luncheon in the Company's 
private dining-rooms. 



30 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

Following the luncheon this afternoon a trip through the 
new tube mills was made by the party which was escorted 
by W. A. Cornelius, resident manager of the plant. Mr. 
Flagler was accompanied by Mr. Patterson, Mr. Devenny, 
Mr. Donovan, Mr. Repper, Mr. Cronemeyer and officials of 
the company. 

The reception to be given Mr. Flagler this evening by the 
members of the Chamber of Commerce, the "Old Guard" 
and other men who worked with him 20 years ago will take 
place at 8 o'clock and the public is invited to attend. The 
event is to be extremely informal and Mr. Flagler will de- 
liver an address. 



Pittsburgh Gazette Times, January 28, 1909. 

FLAGLER'S LITTLE " OLD HOME WEEK." 
Capitalist Feted in Town For Which He in Part Is 

Sponsor. 

Hot Talk On Tariff To Former Employes. 

Says Judge Wright Is as Inflammable as Debs or 

Gompers. 
Hails Taft As A Moses. 

"How are you, Joe, old boy? You seem to be just the 
same as ever," was the greeting to the man who made the 
first piece of pipe of the old National Tube Company by the 
founder of the industry, who visited the old plant yesterday 
for the first time in 20 years. John H. Flagler, who is also 
the practical founder of McKeesport as an industrial center, 
stepped from a Baltimore & Ohio train and the first man to 
grasp him by the hand was Joseph Dillon, one of his old 
employes, whom he had not seen for a score of years. There 
was a suspicion of moisture beneath the eyelids as the two 



McKEE SPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 31 

men met, and Dillon exclaimed that it was the happiest 
moment of his life. 

Besides visiting his old plant Mr. Flagler was to be a 
guest of the Chamber of Commerce, which he was to address 
in the evening at the annual banquet. After a short stop at 
the Hotel White, where quarters had been engaged for the 
former McKeesporter, Mr. Flagler was accompanied to the 
Chamber of Commerce rooms, which, while but a block away, 
it took an hour to reach. 

McKeesport News, January 28. 

GREATER MILLS ARE INSPECTED. 

Mr. Flagler Makes a Trip Through New Tube MilL 

Visitor is Amazed. 
Greatness of Mammoth Plant Was a Surprise to Its 

Founder. 
Honor Guest Is Given Banquet At The Mill. 

Like a parent might lead a child into the mysteries of 
fairyland prominent officials of the National Tube Com- 
pany yesterday afternoon led Mr. John H. Flagler, some 
time manager of the company in this city, through the mag- 
nificent manufacturing establishment on the banks of the 
Monongahela River, and after almost three hours of sight- 
seeing he returned to the company's office little short of 
being dazed by the magnitude of it all. The Flagler party 
was headed by Resident Manager W. A. Cornelius and Su- 
perintendent A. M. Saunders, and in addition to these was 
composed of Peter Patterson, P. C. Patterson, J. A. Beattie, 
Dr. J. P. Blackburn, John Jeffers, J. B. Ayres, Robert M. 
Gordon, Sr., Jas. Downer, of Pittsburg, James F. McCloskey 
and W. H. Barr, of the Daily News. 

Beginning at the Monongahela blast furnaces near River- 



32 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

ton Street and ending with the practically dismantled 
original plant near Walnut Street, almost every feature of 
the mammoth industry was gone over by Mr. Flagler, who 
was personally escorted by Mr. Cornelius. All the wonders 
of the millions of dollars' worth of new and improved ma- 
chinery, the amazing development of principles with which 
even Mr. Flagler was but slightly acquainted during his 
early operations here, and the marvelous changes which have 
been wrought during a score of years, were suddenly laid be- 
fore the honor guest, and he was dumbfounded. Though 
partially prepared for the things he saw by previous de- 
scriptions and a hasty view of the exterior he was completely 
at a loss for words with which to properly express his feelings. 

The journey through the great works was one which will 
in all probability never be forgotten by any member of the 
party. Many of them had been through the mills before 
but none under such circumstances as those with which yes- 
terday's event was surrounded. The establishment, said to 
be the greatest of its kind in the world, is the evolution of 
labors performed by Mr. Flagler and his associates over 35 
years ago, when they plunged into the virgin fields of the 
McKeesport district and by sheer determination, courage 
and enterprise laid the foundations of what is now perhaps 
the most important industry of the Monongahela valley. 
But even Mr. Flagler's progressive mind had not dared at 
that time to conceive such things as were shown to him 
yesterday, and he was to all intents and purposes unac- 
quainted with them. 

Mr. Flagler's trip was punctuated at frequent intervals by 
events which greatly heightened the interest. After leaving 
the plate mill Mr. Flagler was frequently interrupted in his 
inspection of the machinery by members of "The Old Guard" 
who were on duty and who desired to shake hands with him. 
The first one he met was "Dick" Easley, of Boston, one of 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 33 

the earliest employes of the Tube Company. The greeting 
given by Mr. Flagler was received and returned by the mill 
worker in hearty fashion and the entire party stopped while 
Mr. Flagler exchanged a few words of reminiscence with his 
friend. Passing on into the pipe mills, which are contained 
in the largest single building in the world used for manu- 
facturing purposes, similar scenes took place at least a dozen 
times. Among those whom Mr. Flagler met were Thomas 
O'Brien, watchman; Thomas Griffin, formerly of Boston; 
Harry Izod, Harry Hammond, William Anderson, Oscar 
Moller, John W. Pierce, J. N. Dunshee, C. A. Hill and 
Joseph Pratt. 

Admiration and esteem shone from the eyes of all these 
men as they took Mr. Flagler's hand and heard his kind 
words of recognition. Many of them he recalled after a 
moment or two of hesitation, owing to changes made in their 
features by the hand of Time. Faces that once wore beards 
were shaven, while others he had known when they were 
smooth were furrowed and wrinkled by care and hardship. 
All of them were in their working garb and their hands were 
grimy with the soil of the mills, but the millionaire's hand 
went right out to meet theirs with a grip that said as much 
as his mouth. 

Once when Mr. Flagler became thirsty after more than an 
hour had been spent within the plant he halted suddenly and 
taking off the cover of a large water barrel picked up the tin 
cup fastened to the side of it with a chain and took a long 
draught of cold water. "That's good water you boys have 
here now," he said turning to a group of the workmen with a 
pleasant smile, and the light that shone in their faces told 
him that he had by this action won a deep place in their 
honest hearts. 

And after Mr. Flagler had seen all the revelations of the 
new Tube Works and left that portion of the plant his es- 



34 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

corts took him to what was, perhaps, the most interesting 
part of it all to him. The buildings were old and the ma- 
chinery was rusty and disorder was everywhere, but it was 
the place where John H. Flagler and his "Old Guard" had 
worked, side by side, in the days of long ago, and he paused 
for a moment with sadness in his face. "It's going fast," 
he said, more to himself than anyone else, and then, as if to 
drive away the feeling of regret he said: "One would never 
suppose after seeing all this that the rabbits used to run wild 
over this very ground." 

The tour of the mills was completed by an inspection of 
the new mold shop on Fourth Avenue, the butt weld de- 
partment, and the new hospital recently installed next to 
the company's general offices. The latter has just been 
equipped with a new ambulance and the building is in 
charge of James F. McCloskey. This feature of the new 
plant proved to be a most interesting one to Mr. Flagler and 
the other members of the party, and considerable time was 
spent there. 

Preceding the visit to the mills Mr. Flagler and Mr. 
Patterson were entertained at luncheon in the company's 
private dining rooms. At the tables were : 

Mr. Flagler, George Baehk, 

Mr. Patterson, Robert Caughey, 

W. A. Cornelius, T. H. Fox, 

P. C. Patterson, Frank W. Young, 

A. M. Saunders, H. W. Gray, 

J. C. Devenny, H. W. Pendleton, 

Robert W. Gordon, John Caughey, 

Dr. J. P. Blackburn, J. A. Beattie, 

H. W. Lynch, John Jeffers, 

J, G. Wilson, Daniel G. Donovan 
J. B. Ayres. 



The Reception. 

McKeesport News, January 28, 1909. 

RECEPTION BY MILL VETERANS. 

Many "Old Timers" Shake the Hand of Mill 
Founder. 
Evening of Pleasure. 
Mill Workers, Officials, Capitalists and Business 

Men Present. 
Poem of " Old Mill " Recited by Geo. Taylor. 

Attended by a cosmopolitan gathering composed of mill 
workers, capitalists, professional men, officials of the city 
and many others, some in evening dress and some in the 
clothes which they wear at their daily vocations, the re- 
ception given last night in the Chamber of Commerce rooms 
in honor of John H. Flagler, former manager and founder of 
the Tube Company in this city, was a fitting climax to the 
events of the day. Crowded to the doors and with the halls 
leading to the Chamber's meeting place blocked by the over- 
flow the accommodations were entirely inadequate to the 
demands made upon them and many persons were unable to 
get near enough to see the honor guest or to hear all that 
was said by him. 

At the close of the reception, however, Mr. Flagler per- 
sonally met scores of prominent citizens, all of whom assured 
him of their pleasure at having him here for even a day. 

The ordeal was a trying one for him after the strenuous 
day which he had passed through, but he gave no indication 
of fatigue throughout the formal exercises of the evening. 
He sat on the platform with the men of his "Old Guard" who 
acted as a reception committee, and that he was thoroughly 
alive to the enjoyment of it all was evident by the expres- 



36 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

sion on his face. His glance met that of the men who 
surrounded him with a brotherly affection, and when he 
arose to speak it was plain that his words came deeply from 
the heart. 

The meeting was presided over by John Jeffers, who has 
been chosen to head the organization proposed by the mill 
veterans, and he made a most capable presiding officer. J. 
C. Devenny, of the Chamber of Commerce, acted as secre- 
tary. As soon as the preliminaries were disposed of Mr. 
Jeffers introduced Mr. J. B. Ayres, who was chosen by the 
employes to deliver the greeting to Mr. Flagler. He was 
followed by W. C. Cronemeyer, President of the Chamber, 
who accepted the handsome oil portrait of Mr. Flagler on 
behalf of the organization. 

Mr. Flagler was the next speaker and his address was the 
principal one of the evening. Much time and thought had 
been given to this feature by Mr. Flagler and his words were 
listened to with close attention by everybody. When he 
concluded there was a second's silence, and then he was 
applauded to the echo. 

Mr. Flagler's speech did much to accentuate the im- 
pressiveness of the occasion and many eyes were dimmed 
by moisture as they contemplated the scene before them. 
Most of the seats in the large room were occupied by men 
who are employed in the National Tube Works, and while 
Mr. Flagler spoke also to the others present it was evident 
that he was directing most of his talk to "Tom" O'Brien, 
"Bob" Gordon, "Billy" Anderson, "Dick" Ferguson, "Dick" 
Easley, "Joe" Dillon and the many others who knew him 
when he was simply "the boss" of the mill. 

No such scene was ever witnessed in McKeesport before 
and it will live long in the memory of those who were present. 
Admittedly one of the most important events in the history 
of the Chamber of Commerce the greatest interest was dis- 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 37 

played by many of the members who cast aside their business 
cares for the evening and participated to a large extent in 
the formahties. 

Much enthusiasm was shown when W. A. Cornehus, 
resident manager of the great industry which Mr. Flagler 
commenced nearly 40 years ago, arose to speak on behalf of 
the company. He told of the many changes that had tran- 
spired during the absence of Mr. Flagler but gave much of 
the credit of the work that has been done to the sturdy band 
of men who broke the virgin soil and laid the foundations 
when the industry was yet in its infancy. 

George Taylor, better known as McKeesport's poet 
laureate, read a poem written by himself and dedicated to 
the occasion, entitled: "The Old Mill." This was one of the 
most pleasant features of the exercises. Mr. Taylor was 
followed by B. P. Wallace, President of the Chamber of 
Commerce of Connellsville and a former employe of Mr. 
Flagler, who delivered one of the principal speeches. 

The reception concluded with greetings and handshakings 
all around and although Mr. Flagler had planned to return 
last night to Pittsburg, it was late when the reception was 
over and he remained at the Hotel White over night. This 
morning he departed for New York at 9:30 o'clock, being 
escorted to the B. & O. station by several members of the 
Chamber of Commerce and some of his old employes. 

McKEESPORT SAYS WELCOME TO MR. FLAGLER. 

Account of Reception and greeting tendered on Wednesday 
evening Jan. 27th, 1909 at the Chamber of Commerce rooms, 
McKeesport, Pa., to Mr. J. H. Flagler of No. 200 Broadway, 
New York, Founder and former General Manager of the 
National Tube Works, by the Chamber of Commerce of 
McKeesport, Pa., and the former employes of Mr. Flagler, 



S8 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

who are known as the "Old Guard" and many of whom 
assisted Mr. Flagler in building the original mill at East 
Boston, Mass. 

The event was originally intended to be a quiet and in- 
formal affair, but upon Mr. Flagler's arrival in Pittsburg on 
the morning of Jan. 26th, his suite of rooms at the Hotel 
Lincoln were besieged with old industrial comrades, news- 
paper reporters and others, and his intended quiet visit be- 
came an ovation. He was interviewed on issues of the day 
and the same received conspicuous positions and editorial 
comments in the Press throughout the country. 

Mr. J. M. Jeffers, who started to work for Mr. Flagler 
when the Mill was first built in East Boston, and who has 
been in the continuous employ of the Company ever since, 
presided over the Meeting in a most able manner, and J. 
C. Devenny acted as Secretary. Chairman Jeffers opened 
the meeting with a few appropriate remarks, after which 
the following communications were read by the Secretary. 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 

EXECUTIVE CHAMBER 

Harrisburg. 

January 25, 1909. 
Mr. John C. Devenny, 

Secretary, Chamber of Commerce, 
McKeesport, Pennsylvania. 

My Dear Sir: — 

Your favor of the 21st instant, inviting me to attend the 
reception to Mr. J. H. Flagler by the Chamber of Commerce 
of McKeesport, on Wednesday evening, the 27th instant, is 
received. The courtesy extended is very much appreciated 
and I wish I were free to accept, but unfortunately, owing 
to a previous important official engagement for the same 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 39 

evening, which cannot be postponed, I regret to say that I 
am reluctantly compelled to forego the pleasure of being 
with you. 

After thanking you and the members of the Chamber 
of Commerce of McKeesport for the thoughtful and generous 
invitation extended, may I request that you express to Mr. 
Flagler and the gentlemen present my sincere regrets at my 
inability to attend the reception. 

Very truly yours, 

Edwin S. Stuart. 



Mayor's Office George W. Guthrie 

Pittsburg, Pa. Mayor. 

^ ^, January 23, 1909. 

uentlemen : — 

Yours of 21st instant, inviting me to be present on Wednes- 
day the 27th inst., at the dedication of a large wall 
portrait of Mr. J. H. Flagler has been received. 

I am very much obliged to the Chamber for the kind 
invitation, but regret that previous engagements of a public 
character, will make it impossible for me to accept. 
With thanks and good wishes, 

I am Very truly yours, 

Geo. W. Guthrie 
- Mayor. 

Chamber of Commerce, 
McKeesport, Pa. 

70-72 Broad Street 
New York. 
Robert W. Gordon, Esq., Chairman^ 
Committee on Arrangements, 
McKeesport, Pa. 
Dear Sir: — 

I am in receipt of your kind invitation to attend the 
reception to be tendered Mr. John H. Flagler, the former 



40 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

General Manager of the National Tube Works Company by 
the old employees. This appeals to me very strongly, but 
it will be impossible for me to attend, much as I regret my 
inability to line up with the old boys in doing honor to our 
old chief. As the founder of that great and successful com- 
pany, McKeesport and her citizens should be justly proud, 
since I know that in Mr. Flagler's heart of hearts he appre- 
ciates that all of his old comrades and fellow-workers helped 
him to make the Company what it was and what it has 
turned out to be — the greatest tube plant and best organiza- 
tion of its kind in the world. 

I am contented to have been a co-worker with you all and 
to have striven earnestly to contribute my mite to the suc- 
cess secured. 

Time has treated our former chief kindly, as you will see. 
He has his old-time vim, keen perception and pleasing per- 
sonality. 

Though absent, let me join in the spirit of this reunion by 
wishing all of the old reliables and their former General 
Manager long lives and happy ones. 

Sincerely yours, 
E. C. Converse. 
January twenty third Nineteen hundred and nine. 



COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS, 

House of Representatives. 

Washington, D. C. 

January 24, 1909. 
J. C. Devenny, Secretary, 

McKeesport, Pa. 
Dear Sir: — 

I acknowledge receipt of your letter informing me that on 
the evening of the 27th, Mr. Flagler will be the guest of the 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 41 

Chamber of Commerce upon the occasion of the dedication 
of his portrait and that there will be present the old employes 
of the National Tube Works and others and inviting me to 
be present. I beg to assure you that it would give me great 
pleasure to accept your invitation if it were at all possible. 
As you perhaps know, the Committee on Ways & Means is 
now engaged in the formulation of a new tariff bill and my 
duties as a member of that Committee are so exacting in 
their character as to make it impossible for me to be absent 
from its meetings even for a single day. In declining your 
invitation, therefore, which I do with great regret, I beg 
to wish for your meeting the most abundant success. 

Very Truly Yours, 

John Dalzell. 



MIDDLETOWN CAR WORKS. 

Incorporated. 
Middletown, Pa. January 26, 1909. 

Mr. J. C. Devenny, Secretary, 
Chamber of Commerce, 
McKeesport, Pa. 
My dear Mr. Devenny: — 

I acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of your postal invita- 
tion to be present on next Wednesday evening at a meeting 
at which Mr. J. H. Flagler, of New York, will be present. 
It is with exceeding regret that I must decline the invitation 
owing to business matters. I would like very much to be 
with you on that occasion, and would deem it a personal 
favor if you would extend to Mr. Flagler my sincere wishes. 
Mr. Flagler is the person who gave me my first position after 
returning from college and I have not forgotten the many 
favors extended to me through him as Manager of the 
National plant. 



42 MR. JOHN II. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

Again thanking you for the courtesy in the matter, I beg 
to remain. 

Yours very truly, 

J. M. Jaycox. 



George N. Riley. Frick Bldg. 

NATIONAL TUBE COMPANY 
Pittsburgh, Pa. 

January 26, 1909. 
Mb. J. C. Devenny, Secretary, 
Chamber of Commerce, 
McKeesport, Pa. 
Dear Sir: — 

I acknowledge receipt of your invitation to visit McKees- 
port on the evening of the 27th inst., and participate in 
the reception for Mr. John H. Flagler, former General 
Manager of our old National Tube Works Company . 

Nothing would aflFord me more pleasure than to accept 
this invitation, but unfortunately I have been partly laid 
up with a very bad sprained ankle, and on that account I 
will be unable to be present on this occasion. 

Thanking you and the Chamber of Commerce of McKees- 
port most heartily for your kind invitation, I am, 

Yours very truly, 

George N. Riley. 



The Speeches. 



Chairman Jeflfers called on Mr. J. B. Ayres, who 
ranks in the membership of ** The Old Guard," to 
make a few remarks to his old chief, and Mr. Ayres 
spoke in part as follows: 

"When this pleasant duty was assigned to me 
I felt it was an honor to which I was not entitled," 
said Mr. Ayres. "This is an event that we should 
be proud of. It is something that will be heralded 
abroad and will mean much to McKeesport. The 
poet spoke the truth when he said: " ' Tho' lost to 
sight, To memory dear.' " 

"In this gathering of the old veterans I believe 
you see the evidence of sincerity and fond remem- 
brance, and on behalf of the present management 
and the old employes I bid you welcome." 

In response to a call from the Chair, Mr. W. C. 
Cronemeyer, President of the Chamber of Commerce, 
and who is known from Maine to California as the 
Father of the Tin-Plate industry, of the United States, 
arose to thank Mr. Flagler for sending the handsome 
wall portrait of himself to the Chamber of Commerce, 
and spoke as follows: 

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Flagler and Gentlemen: — 

With your permission, I too, would like to make 
a few remarks. While I cannot glory with you 
old veterans in the fact that you were at one time 



44 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

employes of our honored guest and worked under 
his leadership, I am nevertheless justly proud that 
many j^ears ago, I had, in a certain sense, the honor 
to work with him and had frequently the advan- 
tage of receiving his kind advice. Some twenty- 
five to thirty-five years ago, McKeesport indus- 
tries were in their infancy and we were all of us 
engaged in doing the pioneer work which has re- 
sulted into the mammoth industries of which our 
City can boast. While Mr. Flagler was marshal- 
ling the large army of pioneers in tube making in 
the upper end of town, I had charge of a smaller 
corps of pioneer tin-plate workers at the lower end, 
and although our separate companies were at that 
time in nowise connected, we exchanged occasional 
visits at which I always benefited by Mr. Flagler's 
broader experience and kind advice, and therefore, 
you will realize that I can and do heartily join 
you in the pleasure and satisfaction of being per- 
mitted to greet again, after many years, an old 
acquaintance and kind adviser; the man who, by 
the keen foresight with which he perceived the 
advantages of the locality at the junction of the 
Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers, and by 
choosing this place as the site for the National 
Tube Works, has made McKeesport famous all 
over the world and has given it the sobriquet of 
the **Tube City." But, Mr. Chairman, my real 
purpose is to say a few words in behalf of the 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 45 

Chamber of Commerce. I wish to express the 
thanks of that body to our honored guest, to you, 
Mr. Flagler, for the pleasure you gave us and the 
honor you did us when you presented to us a short 
time ago, this likeness of your noble face. I am 
afraid I cannot find satisfactory words to expiess 
our appreciation and the gratification that we feel 
in being able to hang up your picture on our wall 
here amongst those of the many others of our re- 
vered fellow-citizens who have helped to build 
McKeesport the large City it is today. When 
you survey the portraits which are covering our 
walls you will recognize a number of old acquaint- 
ances; alas, the majority of them have departed 
from this life; there are so far, only four whose 
originals are still amongst the living. Some time 
ago my friends hung up my picture also, and when 
our young friend, I. Lincoln Jones, was asked to 
say a few appropriate words, he made remarks 
that implied in short — what is the use in talking 
about a man that is not a dead one yet already. 
Mr. Flagler, in this latter respect, there is, it seems, 
some resemblance between us, for in fact we all 
here observe with the sincerest gratification that 
you are still very much alive, and I express the 
heartfelt wish of the members of the Chamber of 
Commerce and the citizens of McKeesport gen- 
erally, when I say that we hope to see you enjoy 
life and the best of health for many, many years 



46 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

to come. Again, Mr. Flagler, I beg you to accept 
our thanks and our best wishes. 

B. P. Wallace, President of the Chamber of Com- 
merce of greater Connellsville, responded to a call in 
the following words: 

Mr. President, our Honored Guest, and Gentlemen : — 
It is indeed a rare pleasure to address you this 
evening and to join with you in extending the hand 
of fellowship and good will to the man whose won- 
derful brains and executive ability has made pos- 
sible the building of the greatest works of its kind 
in the world and thereby building up this beautiful 
city. This is indeed a monument that any man 
may well feel proud of, but the most significant 
part of this gathering is the fact that after years 
of strenuous work together, when you, his old 
comrades and he are nearing the allotted time of 
life, you assemble here tonight and with honest 
hearts shake the hand of your former President 
and say, "I am glad to meet you." This indeed, 
gentlemen, is the greatest honor man can pay to 
man. 

Mr. Flagler comes here tonight to do you honor, 
to acknowledge the great part you have taken in 
making possible his great life work. He leaves 
you tonight, some of you he may never meet 
again but in his heart and yours, will be fond 
remembrances of this night's gathering; friendship 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 47 

and good will to the last. His great work is done. 
Yours is to continue in making this City of Mc- 
Keesport a credit to you and to him, and the 
Civic pride you have displayed in the past I know 
will continue. Your Chamber of Commerce is one 
to pattern after. It does things. The ordinary 
Chamber of Commerce consists in having six course 
dinners, wearing spike-tail coats, flowery speeches, 
hot air, etc. That is not a live Chamber. Take 
care of your poor as you have done, go after new 
manufacturing concerns, see that your municipal 
government is conducted properly, get in touch 
with your representatives. 



Mr. Flagler's Speech. 

Mr. Flagler was then introduced by Mr. Jefifers. 
As he stepped to the front of the platform his eyes 
beamed with delight as the fond gaze of his old 
friends centered on him, and their kindly glances 
struck deep into his heart. Every man in the large 
gathering witnessed the battle of emotion that was 
raging within his breast, evidences of which appeared 
in his eyes and quivering lips. After making several 
unsuccessful attempts to start his speech there was 
presented a scene perhaps never equaled in the history 
of McKeesport. Old gray-haired veterans shouted 
like a lot of ball players, and as Mr. Flagler stepped 
to the front of the platform, he was so visibly affect- 
ed, that he could not begin his address until he had 
told a funny story. 

During the address, Mr. Flagler was frequently in- 
terrupted by applause, and spoke as follows : — 

My Friends of the Old Guard, Mr. President of 
the Chamber of Commerce, and Citizeiis of McKees- 
port: 

"I am going to tell you a little joke and after 
I have finished if there is anyone who can guess 
my age, I will say, ' someone has told you.' 

"Once there was an old darkey in the South 
whose age was not known to anyone in the neigh- 
borhood. He was old when the old citizens were 
young. Several attempts had been made to learn 
his age but all had failed. At last a lawyer was 



50 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

commissioned to go to the old fellow and learn 
his age. 

"Approaching the old man, he said: 'How old 
are you, Uncle?' 

" 'Deed Ah couldn't tell you, massa,' replied the 
old fellow. 

'"Well, isn't there some episode in your life 
that would give you an idea of your age?' inquired 
the lawyer. 

"'Don't know nothin' 'bout episodes,' replied 
the darkey, 'but I done know Gawge Washington.* 

" 'Indeed. Well you must be real old, then.' 

"'Yas, 'ndeed. When Washington crossed the 
Delaware, Ah done sit in de front of de boat and 
shoved de ice out'n de road.' 

"'Were you ever in any battles with Washing- 
ton?' 

" ' Sure, sah. Ah was with Washington when de 
battle of Bull's Run was fit.' 

"'I suppose you were with him when he hacked 
the cherry tree?' 

"'Yas, sar. Ah don drove de hack."' 

After the applause had subsided Mr. Flagler 
said: "Now if anyone can tell me how old I am, 
I will say that someone told you." 

"Why, you're just ten years older than I am," 
shouted one of the men in the audience. 

"Then you will be 49 years old your next 
birthday," quickly replied Mr. Flagler. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 51 

Mr;Flagler then delivered the following address:— 

"To have a friend," said Ralph Waldo Em- 
erson, " be one." That is philosophy, that is 
religion, that is business. Moreover, it is our ex- 
perience. 

"Mutual respect and mutual help wove the magic 
spell that bound us together, master and man, 
brothers, friends. Year by year we stood shoul- 
der to shoulder and made those old works belch 
fire. Day by day we proudly saw our labors 
crowned by a vast output and our pride in each 
other grew with our ever-growing works. 

"A team is as fast as its slowest horse. Ours was 
a fast team. Every man of us was on his toes, 
driven by ambition and devotion. Ours was an 
army of gentlemen glorifying labor ; of friends tested 
and true. Together we builded a city of steel; 
together we won on the battlefield in fair fight, for 
our weapons were enthusiasm, brains and brawn. 

"As I look into your faces, I feel like one walking 
through a picture gallery of the past. I see before 
me familiar faces and feel their kindly eyes, but 
some of the old boys I see only in a vision in the 
skies. Though absent in body, they are always 
with us, and I should be a traitor to my heart if I 
failed to acknowledge the debt I owe them for my 
early success and my present happiness. 

"The spirit of mutual good will (that has always 
been the inspiration and the genius of the National 



5i MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

Tube Company) is the true balance between wis- 
dom and power. There is more power in affection 
than in all the combined resources of human per- 
sonality. 'Those hours are not lost that are spent 
in cementing affection, for a friend is above gold, 
precious as the stores of the mind.' 

"Think of it — the loyalty of it, the tenderness of 
it, the beauty of it — that the friends of almost 
half a century should sound the long call from the 
mountain tops and recall him who before many 
of you were born was joining forces with you and 
your fathers in this citadel of fire and steel. That 
is an eloquent reminder that the spirit of the past 
still throbs in your breasts, that father has passed 
the sign manual down to son, that generosity and 
justice reign in the hearts of men. 

" Ever since I arrived in McKeesport I have 
experienced the truth of Longfellow's verse: 

" *Ah! how good it feels, 
The hand of an old friend.' 

*'I feel a good deal like the prodigal son who, after 
wandering over the world, finally is found coming 
back to his old home. My feeling tonight in being 
with you is that I am again at home. It is now 
nearly forty years since I first visited McKeesport, 
and how different do I find it today. I remember 
a most dismal spring day, after I had been walking 
over the old Fulton Bolman rope-work properties. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 58 

or rather what remained of them (for they had 
been destroyed by fire) . It was raining and snow- 
ing, the streets were muddy, and I was so tired 
that I mounted a board fence and sat there to 
deliberate as to whether McKeesport would be a 
proper location for the erection of such a tube 
plant as I had in mind. A man came along some- 
what under the influence of the weather, and 
greeted me with the words: 'Stranger, are you 
one of those Boston men coming out here to build 
a pipe mill?' I replied that I did not know just 
yet, and asked him what kind of a place this Mc- 
Keesport was. Looking up at me, he replied: *I 
don't think much of it. There is nothing doing.* 
I asked him if he was working. He said no, that 
he could not get work. I replied: *Why don't 
you leave and go try some other place?' His 
answer was: *Well, stranger, the fact is I can't 
get away.' How different at this time and thirty- 
nine years ago ! Today no one wants to go away. 
Your population then was, I think, 3,000, now it 
is 50,000. 

*'I am amazed at your city's growth. Its mills, 
its docks, its mercantile buildings, its banks, its 
public institutions, its streets. I could hardly be 
more astonished if upon my return to the farm on 
the Hudson, where I was raised, I should find in 
place of stone walls and pastures a thriving city. 
For I remember McKeesport when it was largely 



54 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

unoccupied land. After all, it is not the visible 
structures of your city that most astonish and 
please me, but the citizens who have so greatly 
honored me. Shakespeare put true words upon 
the lips of the Roman Tribune in the play of 
Coriolanus : 

' WHAT IS THE CITY BUT THE PEOPLE.'* ' 

*'I foresaw in 1870 a great future for your city. 
I saw its prospective advantages. Your citizens 
whom I became acquainted with were liberal in 
meeting the requirements of enterprises that sought 
a home here. Many of your younger merchants 
owe a great deal to your older citizens for the 
broad-gauge foundations they laid for your greater 
growth. 

"One of your great industrial enterprises has 
grown and grown since 1870, so that your city to- 
day holds the key to one of the greatest manufac- 
turing enterprises of the century, and I may say 
of the world. 

"The little National Tube Works that I founded 
in 1868, born in adversity, under a small roof 
80x125, at east Boston, has grown and grown, till 
today in its home within your midst it needs no 
further comment from me. Great as its organiza- 
tion and management in the past, greater in its 
efficient and masterly management today, it stands 
before the world unrivaled. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 55 

"The growth of cities and the growth of capital 
are signals of opportunity to every wage earner. 
As the population and capital grow, the workmen 
can seize advantage. Much of the prosperity of 
our people is due not to the day's work, or the 
year's salary, but to the investment in a house and 
lot, in a farm, or in a few shares in a business enter- 
prise, which with the growth of the country have 
all increased in value and have converted thou- 
sands of workingmen, in spite of themselves, into 
capitalists. 

"Improved facilities of production also, in spite 
of the ignorance and suspicion, which at first sur- 
rounded mechanical improvements, have increased 
the wages and the income of workingmen. The 
National Tube Works had often to make changes 
in its machinery to secure a greater product at a 
cheaper price, or a product of a superior quality. 
Whatever hesitation there was on the part of the 
men to use this new machinery, in the end they 
found that they were benefited either by the in- 
crease of the number of men that could be em- 
ployed (if machinery supplanted men in one direc- 
tion it demanded more men in others) or they 
were benefited by the increase in the wages paid 
for new skill. So a good understanding was estab- 
lished between us that survived all disputes and 
even strikes. 



66 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

^* *A chain is no stronger than its weakest link * 

"Business is a chain, each heart, each hand, each 
brain that brings to perfection and to use the unde- 
veloped wealth that lies like an uncut gem in the 
lap of nature, is a link in the chain. A plant and 
capital spell ruin if the mine is idle; the mine and 
plant spell poverty for labor if hands are idle; the 
mine with capital and labor may be ruined if they 
are at the mercy of an executive brain which has 
run riot with folly, or if they are throttled by a 
heart selfish, soulless, and depraved. Don't you 
see it is team play all around that spells success? 
Not the brute law of force, but the divine law of 
justice produces progress. 

" 'AH things come to him who waits.' Fidelity 
is the word that should be written large in every 
department of life. It will bring golden harvests, 
earned, and, therefore, doubly sweet; it is the pass- 
port to advancement, sure as the signet ring of a 
king. Fidelity is the ability to see duty, and to 
do it, thoughtless of self, because it is duty. 

"While I have not been in active business for 
many years, I have nevertheless kept in touch with 
the iron business. That industry, called the bar- 
ometer of trade, is so fundamental to our civiliza- 
tion, that our age has been called the iron age; it 
is so essential to the structure of our cities that we 
can confidently look forward to the destruction of 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 57 

the bricks, mortar, and marble wherever they have 
fashioned the homes and public buildings of Amer- 
ica, and to the lifting up, in their place, of great 
structures built upon skeletons of steel. 

"An age of gigantic undertakings in the industrial 
world is before us. There can be no more impor- 
tant question, consequently, than this: What is 
to be the relation of the employer and employee to 
each other.'' What is the duty of both to the pub- 
lic.'* And what is the scope of the state's authority 
over them.'* These questions must be answered in 
one way; for the future can be safe and prosperous 
only in so far as there is fair play all around — as 
capital is safeguarded, as labor is encouraged by 
generous treatment, and as the public is honestly 
and efficiently served. In short, in so far as justice 
flourishes. Now, justice, while it may seem a mat- 
ter of law books and of courts, is essentially a 
matter of good will. Consequently, the justice of 
the future must strive to be a justice of brotherly 
love. 

" Besides the general problem, there are subordi- 
nate problems; one of these is the tariff. You 
would not expect me to be anything else than a 
believer in a tariff of such kind as will protect a 
valuable and courageous investment of capital, 
and protect the workingmen also, who, in conse- 
quence of that investment, are furnished with em- 
ployment. 



58 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

"As an old manufacturer I had experiences, not 
only in the Tube Works, where I tried to turn out 
first-class product, but in Washington, where I 
tried to keep ignorant politicians from robbing 
you and me. Do not be surprised, therefore, if I 
have definite opinions on the subject of the tariff. 
The tariff should be removed entirely from politics. 
The present method by which the tariffs are de- 
cided upon is absurd. A congressional committee 
calls together manufacturers and asks them the 
cost of their material, their profits, etc. Figures 
they say can prove anything — so can a committee 
of politicians. The growth of the country and 
the facilities of production should be taken into 
account and modification of the tariff should be 
made at intervals, no matter whether a Republi- 
can or Democratic administration is in office. 

" The Republican party, in my opinion and in my 
experience, has studied the interests of working- 
men more than the Democratic party. A tariff 
for revenue only makes no pretension of helping 
the wages of the workingman. Congressmen who 
too often are only thinking of re-election and not 
of the general welfare of the country, are likely to 
cast their votes for tariff revision, merely to please 
constituents, or to satisfy popular clamor. 

*' As I review the labor situation of forty years, it 
appears to me that the laborer's wages in this 
country have nearly reached their maximum. By 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 59 

the census returns of 1905 we find that out of 
3,297,819 wage earners engaged in manufacturing 
in that year, the average earnings for this entire 
number per week was $10.06. A little more than 
half the entire group earned from $9 to $20 a week. 
The largest group, about one-sixth of the entire 
number, earned from $12 to $15 a week. These 
figures include men, women and children. They 
show that one-half of the wage earners received 
$9 and over a week. Two-thirds of the men and 
one-seventh of the women received over $9 a week 
while 90,167 children received on an average $3.46 
a week. 

** I do not believe in child labor, and I hope to see 
the age limit raised. I do not believe in mothers 
permitting their children to work outside their 
homes. But as the habit of today is for several 
members of a family to work, the average family 
income, based on the figures we have just received, 
must be decidedly large. 

'* How should the tariff be so modified as to bring 
least harm to all — to capital and to labor. The 
tariff should be treated as a balance wheel to keep 
the two properly related. I studied carefully for 
many years the method of appeal to the committee 
of ways and means. I have been called upon to 
appear before this committee upon subjects per- 
taining to the business in which you are engaged, 
and I have been ashamed of the manner in which 



60 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

I have been met, especially before Democratic 
committees. They show too little regard for the 
interests of workingmen. They, themselves, con- 
tinue to draw a salary whatever the tariff may 
be; but by their votes thousands may be de- 
prived of a livelihood. 

"You have frequently heard it complained that 
certain great businesses in America, protected by 
the tariff, are able to manufacture their product 
so cheaply that they can sell in the European mar- 
ket at a rate much below that at which they sell 
in the home market. I have heard until I am 
tired that the steel company sell rails in America 
for $28 a ton, in England for $20 a ton, and are 
able to manufacture for $14. At first sight this 
looks as if the company were robbing the American 
people, but let us examine the facts. 

"A manufacturing company, by running its plant 
to its full capacity, accomplishes three things: It 
employs a larger number of workingmen than it 
otherwise would; it pays higher wages than when 
it runs below its maximum, and its gross product 
can be sold at a cheaper figure than if it ran at — 
say 75 per cent of its capacity. Cheapness of pro- 
duction and a larger wage distribution result when 
the mills of this country are run at their maximum. 
But if there is not a market in this country for 
more than 75 per cent of its full production, isn't 
it better for all concerned that a full profit should 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 61 

be sacrificed on the remaining 25 per cent of the 
product, which perhaps can be sold abroad for cost, 
or a Httle above cost, and by the help of the tariff a 
sufficient profit to satisfy the manufacturer made 
on the three-quarters of his output, sold in the home 
market? The world is enriched by the extra out- 
put, labor is enriched by the larger number of 
hands engaged and larger individual wages, and 
the public is enriched by the reduced rate at which 
a full production can be sold. I fail to see how an 
arrangement could be made that would give more 
general advantage. 

"The tariff question should not be settled by 
politicians, but by the recommendations of repre- 
sentatives of capital and labor. 

"The tariff in this country has been a barrier 
against a lower standard of living and has made 
labor what it is today. In China a coal miner can 
earn in our money about 8 cents a day. An 
iron miner 9 cents. Don't you think he would 
like to get a chance in a Pennsylvania mine? This 
whole subject of tariff — ^which is nothing more 
than the question of wages — ^is a barrier between 
your standards of living and the standards of poorer 
countries, and should be in the hands of permanent 
boards of men of wide acquaintance with economic 
conditions, of broad minds and of statesmanlike 
patriotism. 

"One of the most significant economic facts of our 



62 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

time is the diffusion of that property which we 
have got in the habit of calHng "trusts." The 
American Sugar Company is owned by 20,000 peo- 
ple, with an average of 48 shares each. The Amal- 
gamated Copper Company is owned by 18,000 
people. The United Steel Company by 110,000, 
average number of shares about 79. Eleven rail- 
roads are owned by 180,000 people, while the entire 
railroad system of our country is owned by half a 
million people. What vast numbers of our fellow 
citizens depend for sustenance upon the earning 
capacity of our great corporations — the hundreds 
of thousands who believe in the future of America 
and are willing to save their money and to invest 
it in her great enterprises.'^ Among these owners 
of great properties are women and children, inves- 
tors of savings from every class, even the wage 
earner himself. 

**Some demagogues denounce the thrift which 
has enabled this vast army to bring their savings 
to help the enterprises of this country. But thrift 
is the basis of prosperity. There are two ways of 
dealing with what you produce, with wealth: you 
can consume it or you can save it. If a farmer 
were to consume his annual product, he would 
have nothing for seed. That is capitalism in a 
nut-shell. 

"Lord Rosebery, in an address in Scotland, has 
just told us some interesting facts about thrift. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 63 

* George Washington was as thrifty a man of busi- 
ness as ever lived.' 'When Rome ceased to be 
thrifty she degenerated.' Let us take warning! 

*' I would have a national board of trade composed 
of the ablest men of different professions and of 
representatives of labor, which would constantly 
have under consideration the relative value of labor 
and material, and the relative profits of our manu- 
facturers with those of other countries, and by 
these comparisons come to conclusions about our 
tariff schedule. 

"If other countries were to establish similar 
boards of trade, there could be conferences between 
these bodies; international trade could be im- 
proved by fair regulations which did not arise from 
spasms of national hostility or from the action of 
shifting party governments, but from the steady 
growth of international comity founded upon what 
each nation discovered it needed for its upbuild- 
ing, and what, by reason of its peculiar endow- 
ments, it could do best and do cheapest. 

"A tariff, as a wall against a lower standard of 
living, and a reciprocity as a friendly exchange of 
advantage in those directions which marked one 
country, in its production, from another, would 
seem to me to be the happiest method of adjusting 
satisfactorily the trade rivalries of different na- 
tions, as well as the wage scale within each 
country. 



64 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

" This country now displays a sympathy between 
labor and capital seen nowhere else. At the annual 
dinner of the Civic Federation in New York, I have 
seen labor leaders and capitalists at the same table 
— Carnegie, Harriman, Belmont, Gompers, Mit- 
chell — and I have seen women who represented 
labor by the side of women who represented lei- 
sure. Such a picture is a true reflection of democ- 
racy. The man accustomed to wearing a dress 
coat in the evening, wears one at the Civic Federa- 
tion dinners ; the man accustomed to tweeds wears 
tweeds, and all are satisfied. Thank heaven for 
such an exhibition of mutual esteem and confi- 
dence! May it always exist and lead to even 
better understanding. 

"A recent French observer who saw this sight 
could hardly believe his eyes. In France, if labor 
leaders were to confer socially with capitalists, says 
Mr. Alexander Ular, it would be thought they 
were selling out the toiling masses they repre- 
sented. The great labor leaders of America have 
too high a reputation to be misunderstood by their 
followers. On the contrary, by such acquaintance 
they have gained a most important vantage ground 
for those they represent. The trouble has been in 
the past that the employer and employee have more 
or less distrusted each other, because they have not 
known each other. 

**Mr. Timothy Healy said, addressing Social 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 65 

Union No. 5Q, International Brotherhood of Sta- 
tionary Firemen, New York, December 21, 1909, 
*I want to say that our grievances and the great 
majority of our strikes and lockouts have occurred 
because the employer and employee were too far 
apart, and if they can be brought nearer together 
we shall not have the great labor wars that we 
have had in the past, and both capital and labor 
will be a great deal better off.' 

'*As Washington wrote in 1785 to Richard Henry 
Lee: 'There is nothing that binds one country or 
one state to another but interest. Without this 
cement the western inhabitants, who more than 
probably will be composed in a great degree 
of foreigners, will have no predilection for us.* 
Washington's prediction is true. 

*'The sentiment and principle, he announced, by 
which a mutual interest was established between 
the Americans of colonial days and the Americans 
of later immigration, has made one people of us — 
Puritan, Knickerbocker, Quaker, Slav, Hungarian, 
Italian, German, Scotch, Irish, Hebrew, and Swede 
— all are blended in a common citizenship by the 
operation of a common interest. But this 'ce- 
ment,' as Washington calls it, must not be used 
only as a political solder, for it is interest that must 
weld together the different sides of the industrial 
world. Make the interest of capital and labor 
identical, and you will have then a union higher 



66 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

than the union of states, for it will be a union of 
hearts and minds. 

** Give the workingman an interest in the business 
that engages his labor; let his earnings find a safe 
investment in the corporation he serves, and which 
he ought to know and trust ; let him share beyond 
his wages in the profits of the business in an 
equable fashion, and so frame a method that will 
stimulate his ambition. 

**The United States is the richest country in the 
world. But there is no wealth so great that it 
cannot be exhausted or subjected to diminished 
returns by reason of inexcusable waste. Ameri- 
cans are rich, but they are wasteful. While our 
opportunities should make us optimistic, our care- 
less expenditures, and our waste of natural re- 
sources, may well alarm us. Not discouragement, 
but wise conservation becomes our citizens. 

"We hear it said that these are days of science. 
But science does not stop with the laboratory, 
with the discovery or invention; it finds its way 
into economic organization, and further still, it 
defines the way in which public questions must be 
discussed, for it demands that opinion should be 
founded upon facts and not upon theory or some- 
one's say so. 

"Consequently, there must be the same frank- 
ness and openness in corporation management 
that there is in the search for truth by the chemist 



McKEE SPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 67 

or the physicist. With such honesty of methods 
(which means great publicity), there could not 
help being better feeling between employer and 
employe, and between corporations and the invest- 
ing and the purchasing public. We of the iron 
business may well feel pleased that the United 
States Steel Company has so conspicuously led the 
way by publishing voluntary and frequent state- 
ments of its condition. 

"Now, as for Socialists, who have a panacea for 
every industrial ill, I know a lot of them who are 
good fellows, anxious to help mankind, but when 
they talk about property they seem to me to be 
somewhat like the old fellow Diogenes Laertius,who 
when asked what kind of wine he liked to drink, 
replied: 'That which belongs to another.' It 
strikes me that the only kind of property the 
Socialists like is the kind that belongs to another 
man. 

"Absentee landlordism in Ireland is no worse 
than absentee railroad ownership in America, 
Both are intolerable. Corporations run in the 
interest of families who prefer Europe to America, 
will eventually run down, and they are a fair tar- 
get for public criticism, and a fair field for public 
regulation. 

"The days of denunciation and of extravagant 
and ignorant misrepresentation have passed. I 
am not pleased with the misstatements of a Social- 



68 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

ist, of a labor leader, of a capitalist, or of a judge. 
When Judge Wright attached labor unions he 
was as inflammable as a Debs or a Gompers. He 
should only have laid down the law. His personal 
opinion or feeling toward labor unions should not 
have entered into the case. We want facts about 
law. We want facts about wages; facts about 
profits; facts about the tariff; facts about our in- 
dustrial interdependence. We must eliminate the 
anger or ill-nature of class or position, and by means 
of impartiality and a brotherly good will, discover 
those economic laws which work greatest advantage 
for all classes of society. That will bring the great- 
est good to the greatest numbers. 

"We are entering upon a new era. The public is 
taking a hand in the control of corporations to an 
extent undreamed of in the past. But necessi- 
tated by the growth of enterprise, the diminishing 
of the public domain, the dangers to legislation of 
unregulated efforts to secure private advantage, 
and the weakness of the individual citizen in the 
face of the resources of nature, of the state, and of 
private wealth. Cooperation, brotherhood, are 
goals of the future, and the 'Roosevelt policies' 
so many decry, I believe to have been (in spite of 
the mistakes and exaggerations of our retiring 
president) a happy relief from great dangers to 
the country from reckless individualism. 

"Now a wiser man in law and in administration 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 69 

than Mr. Roosevelt will be the nation's head. 
Never in the history of our government has one 
so equipped for the presidency been sent to the 
White House. Judge, administrator, negotiator, 
diplomat, the friend of all classes, superbly 
equipped by nature with great physical strength, 
with patience, with humor, with high moral ideals, 
he can be called the product and the producer of 
the best in American life. His aim is to give to 
every section and class justice. To him the 
South is as of much importance as the North. He 
would raise it to its noblest wealth and influence. 
In Mr. Taft every religion and social condition has 
a just and sympathetic student of the causes that 
make nations great. He has recently said that 
without the Church we can do nothing in the 
Philippines, or without religion we can do nothing 
in America. Certainly, this wonderfully equipped 
President has given confidence to us all and will 
lead us into new lands of promise. 

"The child of today is the man of tomorrow. 
The future of those great works which have been 
builded in the sweat of your brow, will be in the 
hands of those who are today preparing to enter 
the battle of life. Forget yourselves, remember 
that your great duty is to make the best indus- 
trial soldiers of your young; that they will bless or 
blast you ; that they are clay in the potter's hand, 
and that you owe it to them to point them the way 



70 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

to honor, success and happiness; and also to point 
out the rocks and shoals, that they may not be 
wrecked ere the voyage is under way. 

" The Republic looks toher young for her future 
greatness. The whole is equal to the sum of its 
parts. Do your part in your craft and in your 
community. Stand for education, for a trained 
mind to guide both hand and foot and give wings 
to endeavor. Honest labor is a proud privilege. 
A happy home, surrounded by wife, children, 
with thrift enthroned, and friendship in full play, 
is a richer heritage than the sleepless pillow of a 
prince. 

*' It has been suggested that a permanent organi- 
zation composed of old and new members of the 
National Tube Company be formed, that affairs 
of this kind may be attended and perpetuated, and 
that a sick fellow workman may be visited, that 
attendance in a body upon funerals may be as- 
sured, and that in other friendly and uplifting 
ways of mutual helpfulness we may show by our 
works that we are alive to the humanities. 

" I heartily approve and go in for everything that 
will draw closer the bonds of fellowship; *a fellow- 
feeling makes one wondrous kind.' I go still 
further and suggest that you co-operate with the 
Chamber of Commerce of your city in establishing 
parks and children's playgrounds, improving by 
sanitation and intelligent plans the attractiveness, 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 71 

comfort and health of your homes. This lays the 
foundation for beautifying your city and for appre- 
ciation by young and old alike. 

" The fool says ' Tomorrow never comes.' I tell 
you yesterday's tomorrow is today. The fortu- 
nate, the wise, like the strong tree, can stand alone. 
But my friends there are vines clinging to 
many trees and we should consider the expedi- 
ency of aiding these hapless ones in days of dread 
misfortune. Consider, too, the wisdom and ten- 
derness of circling around the stricken and suffer- 
ing, like the old Scotch Clans, with a circlet of steel, 
ever mindful that cheerful giving and gentle kind- 
ness at moments in the lives of many, bring bless- 
ings, and *A friend in need is a friend indeed.* 

" If organized, systematic and wise provision on 
these lines could be accomplished by your united 
efforts, then would idealism be crystallized by 
action into realism and true beneficence. 

'* I suggest a motto, which was sent to me re- 
cently: 'I cannot do everything, but I can do 
something. What I can do, I ought to do, and in 
the name of humanity, I will do.'" 



THE OLD MILLS 



Geo. Taylor's Poem. 

"Good Bye, Old Mill, Good Bye." 

Respectfully dedicated to the veterans of all 
ranks of the old National Tube Works. *' The old 
mills," were torn down to make room for the 
present mammoth plant at McKeesport. 

Good bye, old mill, your end is nigh, 
To see you go brings forth a sigh. 
You were our friend in years gone by. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

In "Seventy-one" your ground was broke. 
In "Seventy-two" they made you smoke. 
And then to business you awoke. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

John Flagler was our general then, 
And we were all much younger men, 
Those days will never come again. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

We've stayed with you 'till we are gray, 
And now to see you torn away. 
We find it hard for us to say. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

While we say "Welcome to the new" 
We grieve, old friend, to part with you, 
There is not room to hold the "two," 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 



74 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

Year after year we saw you grow, 
At first you started "Sure tho* slow." 
That you made money, figures show, 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

In you we've sweated, but had mirth, 
Your products are all o'er the earth. 
And they have proved to be of worth. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

What would our honored fathers say, 
Could they return and see today, 
How rudely you are torn away.? 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

But you, like them, have had your day. 
Progress bids you to pass away. 
Modern improvements must have sway. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

You helped to build the city here. 
The town was small when you drew near. 
Then why should we not hold you dear? 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

Shall we forget you, good old mill? 
No, you shall live in memory still, 
We'll speak of you with right good will. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

While we must welcome, now the new, 
No disrespect is meant to you. 
To you we give this fond adieu. 
Good bye, old mill, good bye. 

George Taylor. 
McKeesport, Pa. 



List of Guests at Flagler 
Reception 

The following is a partial list of the officials and 
mill veterans who were present at last night's 
reception to Mr. Flagler: 

OFFICIALS: 

General Manager, W. A. Cornelius, 
Superintendent, A. M. Saunders, 
General Purchasing Agent, S. M. Lynch, 
Foreign Sales Agent, James W. Downer, 
Head Order Department, John A. Caughey, 
Consulting Engineer, Peter Patterson, 
Mechanical Engineer, C. P. Patterson, 
Superintendent Republic Iron Works, W. K, Herwig, 
Superintendent Transportation, J. A. Beattie. 

MILL VETERANS: 

Oscar Moller, George Miller, 

Barney Kane, George W. Dennis, 

Louis Ulm, John Harrington, 

William Forsythe, Thomas Cavanaugh, 

Patrick Shovlin, John Daley, 

Thomas Patterson, James Gilchrist, 

Michael Cahill, H. Starcamp, 

James Mahan, Michael Mead, 

Thomas O'Brien, M. F. Kelley, 

R. C. Ferguson, J. F. Dunshee, 

Thomas Mhiffin, Michael Welsh, 

George W. Dennis, John Nichol, 



7« MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 



William Anderson, 
Adam Curran, 
George Taylor, 
David McPherson, 
Harry Hammond, 
Benedict Eisele, 
Harry Izod, 
Patrick Caharer, 
Andrew Graham, 

R. M. KiNCAID, 

W. E. Hartman, 
James Qualters, 
James Shelton, 
Frank W. Torre yson, 
M. J. Donovan, 
Patrick Bligh, 
Thomas Coleman, 
Patrick Flinn, 
Larry Laughlin, 
George P. Bradley, 
James J. Coleman, 
Hugh Hickey, 
Thomas Harry, 
George D. Becket, 
James Hickey, 
Richard Kelly, 
Richard Easley, 
Harry Gordon, 

Joseph 



Richard Hampson, 
John W. Pierce, 
Firman Cooley, 
John P. Peterson, 
Darby Conway, 
John Forney, 
Richard James, 
Daniel Brown, 
James Ferrigan, 
Owen Farley, 
Gust Carlson, 
John Moody, 
William P. Gilbert, 
Magnus Seaberg, 
John Miller, 
William Matthews, 
Taylor Burns, 
James Barnes, 
John Fox, 
Daniel Broms, 
George Good, 
Milton N. Wise, 
Frank P. Carroll, 
Leonard Sietz, 
John Mahley, 
John Jeffers, 
Robert W. Gordon, Sb., 
R. A. Hill, 
Pratt. 



Editorial Comment. 

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BULLETIN 

(Published Monthly) 
J. C. Devenny, Editor 

J. H. Flagler's Reception 

The reception to Mr. J. H. Flagler, founder and former 
general manager of the National Tube Works, on Wednes- 
day evening January 27, was surprisingly successful. The 
original idea was simply to have Mr. Flagler come to Mc- 
Keesport, meet and shake hands with his old friends and 
former employes, and say a few words of greeting. Mr. 
Flagler pleasantly surprised us by delivering one of the most 
able addresses ever presented in McKeesport, and that its 
worth was duly appreciated was evidenced by the fact that 
it was copied in toto by Metropolitan newspapers, and com- 
mented upon by the leading newspapers throughout the 
country. 

When such men as Mr. Flagler urge workingmen to co- 
operate with civic organizations for the betterment of munic- 
ipal conditions a chord is struck which will resound to an 
extent little dreamed of by the average citizen. 

The members of the Chamber of Commerce were highly 
pleased with the reception, the old employes were jubilant, 
but to use Mr. Flagler's own words, "he was the most de- 
lighted person present." Broadway and Wall Street were 
relegated to the rear, stocks and securities were forgotten, 
and throughout the evening Mr. Flagler was again "one of 
the boys," and advised that the good work be kept up, and 
requested that his name be put down for two hundred and 
fifty ($250.00) dollars as a donation to head a subscription 
to assist the work along. 



78 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

McKeesport Evening Times, January 30 y 1909. 

If workingmen would unite with business and professional 
men for civic ends, as suggested by John H. Flagler in his 
Chamber of Commerce speech, a tremendous force for good 
would be added to the ranks of those who are fighting the 
battle for better government and better things in general. 
Because of the lack of a plane where they may meet in com- 
mon as brothers and fellow-citizens, the workingman and 
the man of business are seldom to be found in that close 
touch demanded by the mutuality of their civic interests. 
There is a loss to both. The business man loses the needed 
assistance of the toiler, and the latter loses the benefit of the 
influence that he would have if he were in more intimate 
touch with public affairs. As matters stand, he is talked at 
instead of with; and gets precious little recognition in politics 
or public movements, although his voting strength is several 
times greater than that of the man of business. A civic 
organization is admirably calculated to bring good citizens 
of all classes together, and to ensure the giving of proper 
recognition to each; and the workingman overlooks a fine 
opportunity when he declines an invitation to join one. 

Iron Trade Review Magazine. 

Reception To Founder of National Tube Co. 

John H. Flagler, of New York City, founder of the Na- 
tional Tube Co. was the guest of a celebration January 27, 
which was prepared in his honor by the city of McKeesport, 
Pa., to mark his return to the scene of his former activities 
after an absence of 20 years. Mr. Flagler was the central 
figure at a banquet tendered by the Chamber of Commerce 
of the city. His address was a plea for non-partisan con- 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 79 

sideration of the tariff problem and embodied a strong 
endorsement of the protective principle. The beginning 
of the extensive operations of the National Tube Co. was 
laid by Mr. Flagler in East Boston 40 years ago, when he 
founded the National Tube Works in an unpretentious plant 
80x100 feet. Two years later, in 1870, he removed to Mc- 
Keesport, Pa., setting up his plant with a force of 125 men. 
When he left New York in 1888 the industry had become 
the National Tube Co., and had 3,000 men upon its payrolls. 



Frazzles and Paragraphs. 



When he looked at the tube plant, Flagler didn't recognize the child he 
nursed as a baby. 

Even the old B. & O. station was new to Mr. Flagler. That is positive 
proof that he has been absent many years. 
Welcome to our city, Mr. Flagler. 

To night the mill veterans will rally around their former chief. 

Yes, indeed, perfectly beautiful. 

Did you shake the hands of the men who helped to make McKeesport 
great? 

Flagler nearly wept when he looked at the mills. He'd have cried sure 
if he'd seen them one year ago to-day. 

"I have passed through many trying ordeals and thought I had my 
nerves trained to cope with emergencies, but when I arose to speak to-night 
and gazed at those loyal white-haired veterans and comrades, a lump 
clogged my throat, and had any one said 'cry,' I would have been a goner. 
The only thing to do was to tell a story, which I did." 

Mr. Flagler spent one of the happiest days of his life yesterday. When 
he stepped off a train at the McKeesport station yesterday morning the 
first man to grasp his hand was Joseph Dillon, who made the first piece of 
pipe for Mr. Flagler 40 years ago in Boston. They had not met since 
Mr. Flagler left McKeesport a score of years ago. The recognition was 
mutual, and moisture glistened in the eyes of each. 

In the afternoon Mr. Flagler, accompanied by John C. Devenny, secre- 
tary of the McKeesport Chamber of Commerce, went to the rooms of that 
organization, but it required almost an hour for Mr. Flagler to get there, 
for nearly everybody he met stopped to talk. 

"I confess I could not find my way about Pittsburgh," declared the 
capitalist last night, expressing his surprise at the wonderful development, 
the skyscrapers, the metropolitan features, the growth of 20 years. Al- 
though he relinquished active management of the McKeesport mills in 
1888, he has retained his holdings in them. He has lived a busy life and is 



82 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

on the directorate of many New York banks, trust and insurance companies 
and manufactories . 

"I nearly located at Braddock," he declared, "long before the Edgar 
Thomson Works were started, but finally selected the McKeesport site. 
It was vacant, having been occupied by an old ropewalk, which was burned. 
I was looking for a bargain, for money was a scarce article. In those days 
a man who had a million was a freak whom people were eager to see. 

"I never had any serious trouble with my men. We had strikes, but no 
vindictive steps were taken. We talked over the points in dispute, thresh- 
ing them out thoroughly, and could always reach an agreement. 

"I will be delighted to visit McKeesport again. When I first saw it, it 
was a quiet village with 3,000 inhabitants. Now they tell me the popula- 
tion is over 50,000." 

McKeesport Times, January 27 y 1909. 

STORIES ABOUT JNO. H. FLAGLER. 
"Old Guardsmen " Tell Anecdotes Showing Former 
Chief's Kindness of Heart. 
Did His Good Deeds Quietly. 
How and Why He Tore Up List of Subscriptions For 

Sick Employee's Relief. 
Love For Animals Was A Noteworthy Characteristic. 

J. H. Flagler's devotion to the horse and the dog was 
almost as strong as that which he had for his fellow man. 
Many are the stories that have been told of this man's noble 
acts since his departure from this city twenty-odd years ago. 

Among the oldest of his former employees in point of ser- 
vice are John M. Jeffers, who has been in the employ of the 
Tube Company for 37 years, and Robert W. Gordon, Sr., 
who began work under Mr. Flagler 36 years ago the 20th of 
next month. In speaking of their former employer both 
declare him to be one of the grandest men they know. 

"His great love for horses was one of his strongest charac- 
teristics," said Mr. JeflPers to an Evening Times representa- 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 83 

live, in recalling incidents of the early days. "He actually 
loved dumb animals. He frequently asked me to come to 
his home on Sunday to show me a new animal. 

"Come up to my house Sunday, sure, I want to show you 
a new horse,' or *I want you to see a new dog that I just 
bought,' he would often say. He was a very fine man 
indeed." 

He was known as a man of extraordinary will power, very 
serene, yet always ready with a pleasant smile for his most 
humble employee. He was of a very sympathetic disposi- 
tion. It is said of him that there was never a case of want 
in the family of any man in the mill, which came to his 
notice, that did not receive immediate relief. Mr. Gordon 
and Mr. Jeffers both recalled one particular instance that 
stands out as an example of his noble spirit. 

It was when Larry Laughlin was going among the boys 
with a subscription list to raise funds for one of the men who 
was sick. When he had raised close to $100 he went to Mr. 
Flagler. Glancing quickly over the sheet Mr. Flagler said, 
"Here! there are some of these men on this list who are not 
able to subscribe the amounts opposite their names. Here's a 
check for the man. Give the men their money back, and 
tell the grocer and the doctor to send their bills to me." 

"That's a fact," said Mr. Gordon, "and I know of many 
loads of coal that were hauled to poor families that no one 
ever knew about, except the ones who received it and the 
man who sent it; and that man was J. H. Flagler. Why, 
the fact of his coming here just to see his old employees is 
proof of his worth as a man, and I feel proud of his friend- 
ship." 

"Yes, indeed," said Mr. Jeffers, "he is truly a grand man. 
He has been away from us for twenty years and I feel sure 
that it is his great desire to see the 'old boys ' that brings 
him here." 



84 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

Old Friend's Tribute. 

"Well, I can say nothing but good of him," was W. C. 
Cronemeyer's reply when asked for a few words about Mr. 
Flagler. "He was one of the most amiable, pleasant and 
agreeable men I ever knew. He was a pioneer in the tube 
business. In his deaUngs with other manufacturers he was 
always courteous and ever ready to lend assistance and give 
advice when it was asked. And he was not afraid to ask 
advice either. But I always felt, when he left me, after 
coming for some advice, that I got the best of the talk, for 
I always learned something from him. 

"He would often come down to our works with his engi- 
neer, Tom Shelton, to test our engines, in order to gain 
pointers for his own works. He was not afraid to take ad- 
vice from those who worked under him. 

"He was a man of great energy and possessed of great will 
power, but always amiable and kind to all. He took as 
much pride in the growth of McKeesport as he did in the 
tube works, and I know that he was a great favorite with 
his employes. He is a man of whose friendship I am very 
proud." 

The activity displayed by the old employes of Mr. Flagler 
in preparing for his reception at the Chamber of Commerce 
rooms tonight, and the eager anticipation with which his 
coming is awaited by the "Old Guard" is suflScient proof of 
the esteem in which he is held by those who were fortunate 
enough to serve under him during the early days of the tube 
works in McKeesport. 



McKEESPORT FORTY YEARS AFTER 85 



McKeesport News, January 21, 1990. 

MR. FLAGLER HOAXED BY BOGUS TELEGRAM 
IN PEOPLE'S BANK. 

Old Acquaintance Recalled In Unique Manner By 
Former Messenger. 

One of the greatest surprises and most enjoyable events 
of Mr. Flagler's visit here took place this morning in the 
People's Bank Building, where the honor guest and his 
friends had stopped. While discussing the beauties of the 
building with the cashier a young man came hurriedly into 
the room caUing: "Mr. John H. Flagler, Mr. John H. 
Flagler." 

"Here you are," said Mr. Flagler, reaching out his hand 
for the telegram presented by the newcomer. So intently 
had Mr. Flagler been talking and so completely surprised 
was he at the occurrence that he failed to notice the appear- 
ance of the envelope, which merely resembled the usual 
covering of a telegram. Tearing it open, Mr. Flagler ex- 
cused himself as he adjusted his nose glasses and stepped 
over to the window while he read the contents of the mes- 
sage. 

And this is what he read: "Mr. John H. Flagler, this 
will introduce to you M. F. Bowers, of this city, who more 
than a score of years ago, with hands sadly soiled from play- 
ing marbles, frequently delivered real messages to you in 
your office at the National Tube Works." 

Mr. Flagler had to read over the message twice before he 
could recover from his surprise, and then with a quick flash 



86 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

of recognition he walked to Mr. Bowers, who waited with 
an amused smile, and said : 

"Yes, I know you now, and your face has the same youth- 
ful look. You were a clip of a lad in those days, I remem- 
ber,** and Mr. Flagler chuckled to think of how he used to 
cross the boy's palm with silver and then direct him toward 
the washstand. 



Poem. 

McKeesport Times , January 27, 1909. 

BILLY BINGHAM»S BUDGET. 

A Son of McKeesport. 

Here's a hand to John H. Flagler! 
As he promised that he would, 
He has come to see McKeesport. 
'Twas his home 
'Ere he journeyed down to Gotham, where he very soon 
made good. 
As our people always do wherever they roam. 
He is older than we knew him, but his eye is just as bright; 

His grasp's the friendly grip we used to know; 
His smile is just as kindly and his step is just as light 
As when he bossed the tube works, long ago. 

The world has used him kindly — for that same we're mighty 

• glad; 

It's a joy to see a good man forge ahead; 
He has merited the triumphs that his fine career has had — 

We rejoice to see successes crown his head. 
For a chat with old companions and a look about the town 

From a finance captain's duties he has fled. 
And we hope that he'll enjoy it — won't regret his running 
down 

To this mighty forge where midnight skies are red. 

Here's a hand to John H. Flagler 
May his girth become no less; 
May the hand of Time rest lightly on his brow; 
May the world be bright and smiling, and its satisfactions 
press 
To gladden him, as they are doing now. 
We are proud that he's a product of this busy, grimy town, 

And we're prouder — greatly prouder — with a plus — 
That despite the many good things that kind Fortune's 
showered down 
He's unspoiled, and seems — ^yes, truly — proud of us! 



88 MR. JOHN H. FLAGLER'S RECEPTION 

McKeesport News, January 26, 1909. 
FRAZZLES. 
Come Around. 

Scrub up a bit and come around, 
Help to wield the "glad hand;" 

Flagler's to be the city's guest. 

Let's hoop her up to beat the band ! 

Years ago he was the "boss," 

Of scores of men who worked 
To make the mills we've got; 

But he was first where hardship lurked. 

A score or more of these same men 

Are on the honor list. 
And they will lead the function when 

Our Flagler gets the "festive fist." 



MAR 18 1911 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



